Are There Apps for Tinnitus Management

Tinnitus is the perception of a noise, such as ringing or buzzing that is not actually present. Roughly 10% of Americans have experienced tinnitus lasting at least five minutes in the past year.

While there’s currently no cure, there are several ways to manage the symptoms, including the use of smartphone applications designed to provide relief. In the past, cognitive behavioral therapy has also been shown to help improve tinnitus symptoms in chatbot-based apps. This raises the question of what other apps could exist to help manage tinnitus symptoms.

Apps to the Rescue

Smartphone apps have become a popular tool for managing tinnitus symptoms. These apps serve a variety of functions:

Sound masking: Apps like myNoise and Naturespace use various types of background noise to cover up the sounds of tinnitus. These apps provide nature sounds or a variety of experimental sounds to provide temporary relief, allowing for easier sleep or concentration.
Relaxation and meditation: Stress can worsen tinnitus, so some apps include guided meditations, breathing exercises or bedtime stories to help users relax. Some examples include Insight Timer, Breathwrk, Prana Breath and Waking Up.
Education and personalized therapy: Apps like MindEar offer a combination of sound therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Designed by audiologists and psychologists, these apps use scientifically validated methods to help users learn how to manage their perception of tinnitus.
Improving hearing: AudioCardio functions like physical therapy for hearing; improving hearing can have a positive effect on tinnitus symptoms.

Apps aren’t the only beneficial option for managing tinnitus symptoms. Hearing aids are not only beneficial for those with hearing loss but can also be a crucial tool in managing tinnitus. Many modern hearing aids come with tinnitus masking features that play a sound specifically designed to cover up the internal tinnitus sound. When paired with smartphone apps, they provide a dual approach to managing symptoms. The apps can direct the therapeutic sounds straight into the hearing aids, offering relief and improved hearing simultaneously.

For those suffering from both tinnitus and hearing loss, modern hearing aids integrated with these apps can offer a more comprehensive solution. By embracing these technological advancements, individuals with tinnitus can find a measure of relief and a sense of control over their symptoms, paving the way to a more peaceful and focused daily life.

To learn more about how to manage your tinnitus or to examine your hearing loss, contact Center For Hearing to schedule an appointment today.

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The Future of Hearing Devices: Deep Neural Networks & Artificial Intelligence

February 14, 2025

Hearing technology has come a long way over the years; however, one aspect of hearing loss that many hearing aids have difficulty addressing is trouble understanding speech in noise. Fortunately, some of today’s state-of-the-art devices can solve this problem utilizing deep neural networks (DNN) and artificial intelligence (AI). Sensorineural hearing loss causes difficulty understanding speech in background noise. This type of hearing loss is caused by damage to the hair cells of the inner ear that convert soundwaves into electrical energy, which are then interpreted by the brain. This causes the quality and quantity of the signal sent from the ears to the brain to diminish over time, resulting in the brain expending more energy and effort to make sense of it. DNNs may help improve the transmission of the neural code, making hearing easier on the brain. [1] It’s important to know what DNNs are to understand how they can help. DNNs are a subset of AI. They rapidly analyze large data sets so that they can teach hearing aids and other technological devices how to respond to data like a human would, all while verifying accuracy and making corrections. DNNs are beneficial in hearing technology because they can help with speech enhancement. DNNs can be applied as “time-frequency masks,” meaning select sounds—like speech—are allowed while other sounds are suppressed. DNNs can also identify and separate multiple voices, selecting a primary voice to emphasize and secondary voices to suppress. This feature can help hearing device wearers in a variety of settings. For example, at a restaurant or party, the hearing device can emphasize a conversation partner, allow other nearby voices at a reduced volume and suppress background noises such as dishes clinking. Schedule an appointment to talk to Center for Hearing about our vast state-of-the-art hearing solutions today— (239) 434-0086. [1] Published by Douglas L. Beck. (2021, January 15). Deep neural networks in hearing devices. Retrieved April 2, 2021 from https://www.hearingreview.com/hearing-products/hearing-aids/deep-neural-networks

Startup Aims to Develop the First Gene Therapy for Hearing Loss

February 14, 2025

A Boston biotech startup is attempting to develop the first gene therapy treatment for hearing loss. If successful, it promises to offer new hope to the estimated 300,000 Americans who suffer from gene-based hearing loss—a number that includes more than 4,000 newborns. The timing may not be ideal, but biotech companies have been largely immune from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing recession. Developing new drugs takes years, so these companies are better able to weather storms. And the efforts of biotechnology companies that are focusing on tools to prevent and treat potentially fatal health threats has resulted in soaring stock values for many of these companies, even in the face of the current crisis. Akouos, the Boston startup, was founded in 2016. Its goal is to develop the first gene therapy to treat hearing loss and is targeting a specific form of deafness that results from mutations in a single gene. They are experimenting with adeno-associated viruses, using them as vectors to deliver DNA that encodes a functioning gene in certain target cells. Around 7,000 people are afflicted with this type of genetic hearing loss. Adeno-associated viruses are considered viable candidates because they don’t usually cause disease and can be customized to treat a variety of genetic conditions. The company has partnered with two influential organizations: Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Lonza, a Swiss manufacturing company that holds contracts with various pharmaceutical makers. Manny Simons, Akouos’ co-founder and chief executive, holds a degree in neuroscience from Harvard College, a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. His desire to help those with hearing loss stems from his passion for playing the piano. “It’s easy to take hearing for granted,” said in a Boston Globe interview. “Maybe because music has been important to me, it’s something that I take a little less for granted.” [1] [1] Saltzman, J. (2020, June 22). Akouos, a startup developing a gene therapy for hearing loss, raises IPO value to $125 million - The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 30, 2020, from https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/06/22/business/ipo-upped-akouos-boston-startup-working-gene-therapy-hearing-loss/